EANS-Adhoc: BWT Aktiengesellschaft / BWT strengthens balance sheet

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6-month report

07.08.2009

• Sales EUR 200.0 million (-7.3%)
• EBIT EUR 18.4 million (-11.7%)
• Net profit EUR 16.8 million (+10.7%)
• Gearing 12.1%, equity ratio 51.1%

"We have followed a good way in the second quarter. With new products
and the cost savings measures implemented already last year we were
able to stabilize our earnings situation on a good level. At the same
time, we have improved our balance sheet again reducing our debt,"
says Andreas Weissenbacher, CEO of the BWT Group about the first
half-year 2009.

In the first half-year of 2009, the BWT Group generated consolidated
revenue of EUR 200.0 million, thus falling below the previous year´s
figure by 7.3%. Consequently, the trend of the first quarter with a
decline of just over 7% was confirmed in the second quarter as well.

Altogether, the revenue in the Point-of-Entry business has fallen in
the first six months by 11.4%. Very pleasing increases in "BWT-water
& more" coffee machine filters and in water dispensers brought the
Point-of-Use sales forward by 17% in the aggregate.

In regards to the operating result, the decrease in profit resulting
from lower sales was distinctly reduced in the 2nd quarter, too,
thanks to a better gross margin and the cost-savings measures.
Therefore, after six months, EBIT of EUR 18.4 million was by 11.7%
lower than in the previous year, however, the decrease in the 2nd
quarter amounted only to -7.1% or EUR 0.9 million.

Due to extraordinary revenue thanks to a disposal of a participation
financing generating revenue of EUR 4.5 million, the financial result
in the first six months improved from EUR -0.5 million in the
previous year to EUR +3.2 million.

Earnings before taxes in the first half-year of 2009 amounted to EUR
21.6 million, improving by 6% compared to the previous year from EUR
20.4 million. After 6 months, the profit for the period before
minority interests amounted to EUR 16.8 million compared with EUR
15.2 million in the previous year (+10.7%). In the second quarter,
the Group profit amounted to EUR 12.5 million and was higher by 31.4%
than in the previous year (EUR 9.5 million). The earnings of minority
interest have only minimal effect on Group´s earnings. Earnings per
share came to EUR 0.96 compared with EUR 0.85 in the previous year.

Despite the lower cash flow from earnings, the cash flow from
operating activities increased due to the lower working capital
requirement (above all inventory and trade receivables) from EUR +1.1
million to EUR +13.9 million.

The gearing amounted thus only to 12.1% compared with 32.1% at the
reference date of the previous year and 18.8% at 31 December 2008.
The balance sheet of the BWT Group shows a distinctly improved equity
capitalisation of 51.1% of the balance sheet total; at 31 December of
the previous year, it amounted to 49.0% and at 30 June 2008 to 44.4%.

The number of employees compared with 30 June 2008 or with 31
December 2008 dropped from 2,389 persons to 2,345 persons.

Outlook: Entry into the pharmaceutical water business as strategic
chance for BWT

On 14th July 2009, the Management Board of BWT announced that the BWT
Group, subject to approval by the General Meeting of Shareholders on
10 August 2009 and the antitrust approval, would take over at about
EUR 35 million the pharmaceutical water activities of Christ Water
Technology Group, also listed on the Vienna Stock Exchange.

The takeover of the pharmaceutical water business operated with 200
employees should bring from 2010 about EUR 35 million additional
annual revenues and will probably have only a minor impact on
earnings in this and in the next business year.

Andreas Weissenbacher: "The new pharma water business will leverage
our technologies across the group to Point-of-use and nurture the
sustainable growth of BWT. Very volatile and regionally strongly
varying market conditions require invariably flexible decisions at
short notice. We will continue to work together with our engaged
employees with focus on the aim to minimise the negative effects of
the economic situation on Group´s earnings."

end of announcement euro adhoc
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ots Originaltext: BWT AG
Im Internet recherchierbar: http://www.presseportal.de

Further inquiry note:

BWT Aktiengesellschaft

Mag. Ralf Burchert

ralf.burchert@bwt.group.com

Tel.: 06232/5011-1113

Branche: Water Supply
ISIN: AT0000737705
WKN: 884042
Index: ATX Prime
Börsen: Wien / official market